Plant Manager — Startup Auto Interior Molding

Standex International Corporation; Fraser (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Standex Engraving North America is seeking a dynamic Plant Manager in Fraser, MI to lead a new automotive interior soft trim part facility. You will oversee all plant operations, including production, quality, safety, and maintenance, while driving continuous improvement from the ground up.

The role combines traditional plant management with hands-on oversight of plastic injection molding operations, ensuring high-quality, safe production and strong team development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
• 3+ years of operational management experience in manufacturing, including automotive interior manufacturing.
• Experience in automotive plastic injection molding; start-up experience desirable.
• Experience deploying, qualifying and validating new processes in highly automated production environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all plant operations to achieve operational, financial, and productivity goals.
• Plan, coordinate, and control manufacturing processes to meet production targets and deadlines.
• Lead, coach, and develop department leads, supervisors, and operators for continuous improvement.
• Monitor equipment performance and implement process improvements for plastic injection molding operations.
• Ensure adherence to automotive quality standards (IATF 16949, ISO 9001) and safety policies.
• Collaborate with maintenance and quality teams to minimize downtime and scrap rates.
• Maintain production reports and analyze data to drive process optimization.
• Manage site P&L, budget adherence, and identify opportunities for cost savings while maintaining customer satisfaction.
• Oversee staffing, interviewing, hiring, training, and performance management in partnership with HR.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Team development

Problem solving

Lean manufacturing

Quality systems

Communication

GD&T

Education

Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing/Engineering

Job description

Standex Engraving North America is seeking a dynamic Plant Manager in Fraser, MI to lead a new automotive interior soft trim part facility. You will oversee all plant operations, including production, quality, safety, and maintenance, while driving continuous improvement from the ground up.

The role combines traditional plant management with hands-on oversight of plastic injection molding operations, ensuring high-quality, safe production and strong team development.